And They Reasoned

Pharisee:  A sect that seems to have started after the Jewish exile. In addition to OT books the Pharisees recognized in oral tradition a standard of belief and life. They sought for distinction and praise by outward observance of external rites and by outward forms of piety, and such as ceremonial washings, fastings, prayers, and alms giving; and, comparatively negligent of genuine piety, they prided themselves on their fancied good works. They held strenuously to a belief in the existence of good and evil angels, and to the expectation of a Messiah; and they cherished the hope that the dead, after a preliminary experience either of reward or of penalty in Hades, would be recalled to life by him, and be requited each according to his individual deeds. In opposition to the usurped dominion of the Herods and the rule of the Romans, they stoutly upheld the theocracy and their country’s cause, and possessed great influence with the common people. According to Josephus they numbered more than 6000. They were bitter enemies of Jesus and his cause; and were in turn severely rebuked by him for their avarice, ambition, hollow reliance on outward works, and affection of piety in order to gain popularity.

Sadducees = "the righteous"

  1. a religious party at the time of Christ among the Jews, who denied that the oral law was a revelation of God to the Israelites, and who deemed the written law alone to be obligatory on the nation, as the divine authority. They denied the following doctrines:

    1. resurrection of the body

    2. immortality of the soul

    3. existence of spirits and angels

    4. divine predestination, affirmed free will

These were the two groups who opposed Jesus in his earthly ministry.  Pharisees were focused on the “external” and the Sadducees were focused only on the external written Word and thus were blinded to “The Spirit”.  Neither group understood the internal aspects of The Spirit.  Hence they reasoned with their minds and gained power through the use of their minds.  Their minds were in control and their eyes were blind to the Spiritual realities that Jesus brought forth.  They would be unable to embrace the ministry of the Holy Spirit because of their doctrines.

Matthew 16:

5 Now when His disciples had come to the other side, they had forgotten to take bread.6 Then Jesus said to them, “Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the Sadducees.”

7 And they reasoned among themselves, saying, “It is because we have taken no bread.”

8 But Jesus, being aware of it, said to them, “O you of little faith, why do you reason among yourselves because you have brought no bread?fn 9 Do you not yet understand, or remember the five loaves of the five thousand and how many baskets you took up?10 Nor the seven loaves of the four thousand and how many large baskets you took up?11 How is it you do not understand that I did not speak to you concerning bread?—but to beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” 12 Then they understood that He did not tell them to beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and Sadducees.

Today, many people are focused on the wrong priority.  They are spend huge amounts of money to gain an education in a field contrary to their calling.  They rack up tremendous debt in a vocation that will not support the repayment of that debt.  Their reasoning is in error.  In the above Scripture, Jesus is talking about the rising and promotion of the doctrine of the Pharisees and the Sadducees.  Their focus is empowering the mind rather than empowering the spirit.

“O you of little faith” is the description given to those who trust the reasoning of the mind rather than the power of Our Heavenly Father to  meet the needs of the people.  The disciples failed to recognize that Love will rally the resources of the universe when it is mature and guiding the individual.  Jesus operated by Love and was led by The Spirit.  The Pharisees and the Sadducees could not see or comprehend the source of HIS power and authority.  They were trapped in their box of reasoning.

Be ready to expect the unexpected.  Don’t let past revelation of lower levels of Spiritual Truth prevent you from moving up to the deeper Truths reserved for those who are committed to being rooted and grounded in Love thus satisfying the maturity requirements to be called “Sons”.  Don’t let your mind overrule your spirit.

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